Councilmembers Perry and Parks Thank Media Partners and Contributors for Making the Fundraiser a Great Success

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LOS ANGELES - With the help of generous civic center workers, visitors, and residents, a total of $133,532.10 was raised to support The Salvation Army's Haiti Earthquake Relief Efforts at the Civic Center Haiti Relief Drive yesterday at City Hall. The drive was a result of a partnership between Councilmembers Jan Perry and Bernard C. Parks, The Salvation Army, NBC4, Clear Channel Radio, and RadioKorea.

"The earthquake in Haiti has devastated the nation, leaving hundreds of thousands homeless, hungry, and in need of basic services, " Councilwoman Jan Perry. "We live in a global community and I believe that is even more evident by the generous flood of support that we received yesterday. I want to thank everyone who volunteered their time, donated money, and sponsored our fundraising drive; it was truly a successful effort."

"Yesterday was more than a relief drive, it was a movement," said Councilmember Parks. "The hard work by the city as well as our radio and t.v. partners, the Salvation Army and our volunteers shows how we all can unite locally to lend aid to victims of an unimaginable tragedy that occurred thousands of miles away. It is my hope that our success will encourage others to do the same."

Throughout the day, media sponsors broadcasted live from in front of City Hall, encouraging people from throughout the Los Angeles region to drive to Main Street and give whatever they could to help those devastated by the natural disaster in Haiti. Volunteers, including Councilmembers Perry and Parks, stood on Main Street with mini Salvation Army Kettles collecting coins, cash, and checks to support their efforts in Haiti.

RadioKorea joined the effort, conducting a phone drive simultaneously raising $109,000 from their listeners who could not make it down to Los Angele City Hall in person.

The Salvation Army has raised more than $8 million so far for Haiti relief. Another airplane with an additional 52,000 pounds of relief supplies left Miami and touched down at the airport at Port-au-Prince, Haiti. This brings the total weight of supplies being delivered to Haiti to 132,000 pounds - consisting of 350,000 meals, 18,480 gallons of water, 260 tents as well as tarps, baby items and assorted medical supplies.

The Salvation Army has had a presence in Haiti since 1950 and currently operates schools, clinics, a hospital, feeding programs, children's homes and church-related activities spread across two major facilities in Port au Prince, close to the epicenter of the earthquake and at other locations in the country.

Those wishing to donate to The Salvation Army's relief effort can give online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (and designate your gift to Haiti). They can also text the word HAITI to 52000 to donate $10 to The Salvation Army's relief efforts.